The Tales of Virago-- A Beautiful Mess

     I spent many summers at sleepaway camp, and have spent almost as many summers in return working as a camp counselor of whatever variety. One of the things I remember most from my years as both a camper, and now as a counselor is the stoplight system. It's used primarily when campers are doing team building exercises, or when a child is getting ready to begin a solo activity that might be particularly challenging. Logically, green zones are where a camper feels totally collected, whereas yellow zones typically entail more fear, perhaps some panic, and definitely a bit of discomfort, and the red zone is where we see children break down-- or as the counselors would describe it-- the hysterical, pee your pants scared zone.         It's great to know campers are comfortable, but as counselors-- we have always been more focused on pushing campers into the yellow zone. The place of uncertainty. The line that challenges a person's fear and their abi...

      My daily commute is two hours, and there is not much to say beyond that-- with the exception of  a few highlights including flying deer, car accidents, and the occasional middle finger-- incidentally committed by both parties if I am being an honest writer. Save for a Spotify playlist and angry drivers-- the car occupied by me, myself, and I lies quiet.      Quiet is a perfect place for big thoughts.       This morning as I made the commute, there were several accidents-- a daily occurrence as of lately. As my Spotify playlist moved, but the living hell of traffic remained stationary (come on people-- pay attention!!) I could feel frustration rising, as my face gave way to red before eventually crying on the free way. You know-- the cry that isn't from just the relevant incident really, but actually from that annoyance, and the four days-- or months of really big things prior where you didn't cry? Yeah-- that cry. T...